Friday, December 23, 2011

Well we have heard,read the RSS feeds, followed her on the path to one of the best athletes in the world, well now you can read Chrissie Wellington's story. We or most of us want to see what make her tick, be so strong and push herself well beyond insane.

Description:In 2007, Chrissie Wellington shocked the triathlon world by winning the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. As a newcomer to the sport and a complete unknown to the press, Chrissie's win shook up the sport. A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS is the story of her rise to the top, a journey that has taken her around the world, from a childhood in England, to the mountains of Nepal, to the oceans of New Zealand, and the trails of Argentina, and first across the finish line.

Wellington's first-hand, inspiring story includes all the incredible challenges she has faced-- from anorexia to near-drowning to training with a controversial coach. But to Wellington, the drama of the sports also presents an opportunity to use sports to improve people's lives.

A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS reveals the heart behind Wellington's success, along with the diet, training and motivational techniques that keep her going through one of the world's most grueling events.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Most think that once they bought a bike and had the local shop fit you that you were done, well sorry, most shops do a poor job, you have stiff back, tough time running of the bike, pins and needles in the arms, etc, Well this device can cure what ails you.

The motorized, computer-controlled Guru DFU, which stands for “dynamic fit unit,” can help you dial in your ideal fit.

The premier triathlon bike fit school and philosophy, F.I.S.T., teaches fitters to identify a rider’s preferred position by switching between potential configurations to help the rider perceive subtle differences. Mechanical fit bikes can create just about any position, but the rider often has to stop pedaling—or even dismount—while the fitter makes adjustments. These frequent interruptions make it difficult to perceive small differences, especially for novice riders. The DFU eliminates that problem. Here’s how:

• The DFU uses electronic motors to change saddle and aerobar position while the cyclist pedals. This allows the rider to feel the difference between potential frame and bike geometries without jumping off the bike then trying to recall the previous position after remounting.

• If you are deciding between a stock Guru, a Trek and a Felt, the DFU can mimic the precise fit coordinates so you can feel the differences between the actual, physical bikes. It can also take an aerobar attachment system into account, whether a bike uses a traditional stem or a proprietary integrated unit.

• In addition to its unique attributes, the DFU has all the features typically found on mechanic fit bikes. Saddles and aerobars can be swapped and the bike can be mounted with an adjustable-length crank and a Computrainer to measure power, cadence and pedal stroke efficiency.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Its the off season and you are looking for something different, get out of the comfort zone and really push yourself. There is nothing like trying something new let alone something that might save your life.

When the days of the Samurai came to an end, the gun replaced the sword, and new sportive ways to practice martial arts were developed. Eventually, in Japan many different variations of Jiu-Jitsu took shape, including Karate, Aikido, and Judo. But these arts were missing essential pieces of what the complete art of Jiu-Jitsu originally held.

This lack of reality created years of confusion in the martial arts community, a confusion that legendary Bruce Lee would later refer to as the 'classical mess'. Bruce Lee was actually a student of Judo and did many studies on grappling while he was alive. He criticized traditional martial arts as being ineffective. The more traditional combat schools were simply practicing techniques no longer suitable for modern day combat, and with no way to safely test them, practicing these arts became like swimming without water.

It wasn't until the sport art of Judo and the combat art of Jiu-Jitsu were introduced to the Gracie family in Brazil that the real art of Jiu-Jitsu would be brought to life again. Japanese Jiu-Jitsu (practiced as Judo) was introduced to the Gracie family in Brazil around 1914 by Esai Maeda, who was also known as Conde Koma. Maeda was a champion of Jiu-Jitsu and a direct student of Kano, at the Kodokan in Japan. He was born in 1878, and became a student of Judo (Kano’s Jiu-Jitsu) in 1897.

In 1914, Maeda was given the opportunity to travel to Brazil as part of a large Japanese immigration colony. In Brazil, in the northern state of Para, he befriended Gastão Gracie, an influential businessman, who helped Maeda get established. To show his gratitude, Maeda offered to teach traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu to Gastão's oldest son, Carlos Gracie. Carlos learned for a few years and eventually passed his knowledge to his brothers.

Helio Gracie, the youngest son of Gastão and Cesalina Gracie's eight children (three were girls), was always a very physically frail child. He would run up a flight of stairs and have fainting spells, and no one could figure out why.

At age fourteen, he moved in with his older brothers who lived and taught Jiu-Jitsu in a house in Botafogo, a borough of Rio de Janeiro. Following doctor’s recommendations, Helio would spend the next few years limited to only watching his brothers teach.

One day, when Helio was 16 years old, a student showed up for class when Carlos was not around. Helio, who had memorized all the techniques from watching his brothers teach, offered to start the class. When the class was over, Carlos showed up and apologized for his delay. The student answered, "No problem. I enjoyed the class with Helio very much and, if you don't mind, I'd like to continue learning from him." Carlos agreed, and Helio became an instructor.

Helio soon realized that due to his frail physique, most of the techniques he had learned from watching Carlos teach were particularly difficult for him to execute. Eager to make the techniques work for him, he began modifying them to accommodate his weak body. Emphasizing the use of leverage and timing over strength and speed, Helio modified virtually all of the techniques and, through trial and error, created Gracie/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

In order to prove the effectiveness of his new system, Helio openly challenged all the reputable martial artists in Brazil. He fought 18 times, including matches against onetime world heavyweight wrestling champion, Wladek Zbyszko and the #2-ranked Judoka in the world at the time, Kato, whom Helio choked unconscious in six minutes. His victory against Kato qualified him to enter the ring with the world champion, Masahiko Kimura, the best Jiu-Jitsu fighter Japan has ever produced, and who outweighed Helio by almost 80 pounds. Kimura won the match but was so impressed with Helio’s techniques that he asked Helio to go teach in Japan claiming the techniques Helio presented during their bout did not exist in Japan. It was the recognition by the world’s best to Helio’s dedication to the refinement of the art.

At 43 years old, Helio and former student, Waldemar Santana, set the world record for the longest uninterrupted no-holds-barred fight in history when they fought for an incredible 3 hours and 40 minutes!

Widely regarded as the first sports hero in Brazilian history, Helio also challenged boxing icons Primo Carnera, Joe Louis, and Ezzard Charles. They all declined.

A dedicated family man who exemplified a healthy life-style he was the epitome of courage, discipline, determination, and an inspiration to people everywhere. A modern-day legend, Helio Gracie gained international acclaim for his dedication to the dissemination of the art and is recognized as the creator of Gracie/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

When Daniel Craig stepped out of the surf on a Bahamas beach, he melted women around the world and spiked browser searches from guys looking for that incredible James Bond physique. Fitness marketers capitalized on the moment by offering the usual bodybuilding-style workouts and labeling them Bond. But anyone who knows anything about tactical ops wasn’t fooled.

A guy like Bond needs more than show muscle to save the world — he needs serious go muscle — because it isn’t enough to look pretty when Blofeld comes calling. And when real life secret agents need go muscle, they turn to TACFIT Commando.

The entire TACFIT Commando program is bodyweight-only and can be completed in about the same amount of space you’d need to lie down in. It only takes 20 minutes, but we’ve packed it with an intensity and fat melting power most athletes don’t even tap in a full hour of training — because real-world tactical operators don’t have time to piss around.

As if that weren’t enough, TACFIT will also teach you a few of the slick moves used by real life spies in the field. You’ll be able to run, jump and slide like Bond in that crazy opening parkour sequence and you’ll floor the ladies just like he did when you walk up the beach.

So as a sponsored, very amateur athlete I am going against the grain somewhat, and try training for 365 days, 1 hour each day, it will be referred to as 365/1. I know as an athlete you should give your body time to rest and recoup, as a individual interested and devoted to how health can improve ones mindset, injuries and wellness, how will this change me.

On January 1, 2012 it all starts, I will post where this journal will live as we get closer.
Cheers

Workout No. 1

Main set: 12×1 minute, alternating at a 4 percent grade, a 4.5 percent grade and a 5 percent grade.

The interval at 4 percent should be moderate, the effort at 4.5 percent should be moderately hard, and the interval at 5 percent should be hard. Try to run faster with each set of three.

Take one minute of rest in between each interval.

Cool-down: 10 minutes easy.

—Mike Ricci, head coach, University of Colorado at Boulder Triathlon Team

Workout No. 2

“One treadmill session I have a love-hate relationship with is 10×3 minutes at best effort, with three minutes rest between each,” says Ironman world champion Mirinda Carfrae . “It’s kind of boring but quite effective!”

Always remember to properly warm up and warm down before you do this session. A proper warm-up should include some strides on the treadmill.

Workout No. 3

Warm-up: 20 minutes of running. The first five minutes should be easy and can include walking. By minute 10, you should be running the same pace you would during a long run, and by minute 15, you should be running at a moderately fast pace. For the final five minutes of your warm-up, do progressively faster strides that are 15 to 30 seconds long, separated by 15 to 45 seconds of “recovery running” that is done slightly faster than the pace you expect to hold during the main set.

Set No. 1: 3×30- to 45-second hill repeats at a 5 percent, 6 percent and 7 percent grade. These hill repeats should be fast, but not so fast that you can’t finish the workout. Take a 2:15- to 2:30-minute rest, so that each repeat takes three minutes.

Set No. 2: 3×30- to 45-second hill repeats at a 6 percent, 7 percent and 8 percent grade. Slightly increase the pace you’re running, as well. Take a 2:15- to 2:30-minute rest, so that each repeat takes three minutes.

Set No. 3: 3×30- to 45-second hill repeats at a 7 percent, 8 percent and 9 percent grade. Slightly increase the pace you’re running, as well. Take a 2:15- to 2:30-minute rest, so that each repeat takes three minutes.

Cool-down: 10 minutes of easy running.

— Eric Bean, professional triathlete and coach of the Fast Forward Triathlon Pro Development Team

Monday, November 28, 2011

So YardStash is a unique way to store up to two bikes with hooks to hang your gear. This could be great for someone in the city that is storing their bikes in a basement and would like to conceal their little treasures. Even if you are visiting, vacationing, getting ready for a race, set this little baby up and you are good, could also be used as a changing room. $100, pretty good for something this versatile.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

TrainingPeaks is excited to announce that we are putting together our first ever TrainingPeaks Ambassador Program. If you think you have what it takes to be on Team TrainingPeaks, read on!

We’re looking for athlete ambassadors who avidly use our products and wholeheartedly believe in training with TrainingPeaks. Our ambassadors will balance their passion for endurance sports with life, all while influencing those in their community.

We want athletes who are:

• AUTHENTIC AND CREDIBLE. Our ambassadors are more than just athletes; they are the storytellers for our brand. That’s why our ambassadors will be highly motivated, enthusiastic self-starters. We seek individuals who will validate TrainingPeaks through their daily lives, sport, and community.• PASSIONATE ABOUT TRAINING PROGRAMS. Our ambassadors know when it comes to training, setting a goal and following a training plan or working with a coach is where it’s at.

Sponsorship of our athlete ambassadors will last for one (1) year during which time we ask our athletes to use TrainingPeaks to train for at least five (5) events. We may also collaborate around some or all of the following:

• PRODUCT FEEDBACK. We ask athlete ambassadors to beta test software features and tell us how we can enhance or improve features.• EDITORIAL CONTENT. We are looking for athlete ambassadors who are also inspirational storytellers (writers or bloggers) and generously offer advice and insight into their training. We will publish and promote your work to others to help motivate and inspire training for endurance athletes. Regular engagement and postings on TrainingPeaks’ social media channels will be required.• AMBASSADOR PROFILES. Athlete ambassadors may be featured on the TrainingPeaks website, Facebook page, emails, newsletters and blog.• APPEARANCES. Athlete ambassadors may be asked to participate in TrainingPeaks sponsored events (i.e. race expo, conference, or event) when appropriate, and wear TrainingPeaks gear during your five required events.• TRAININGPEAKS ADVOCATE. Be a role model and spokesperson with whom TrainingPeaks users and our partners will be proud to be associated.

To apply, click here. Application deadline is November 30, 2012. 2012 Ambassadors will be announced December 15th. We look forward to reviewing your application!

-Adaptogenic herb for balancing testosterone:cortisol ratios and also for stress management – I personally do TianChi, taken on an empty stomach mid morning or mid afternoon) and also Millennium Sports Cordygen VO2 (take in morning or 30-60 min before workouts)

-Co-Enzyme Q10 every day for anti-aging and cardiovascular performance. I take 1-2 Hammer Race Caps per day, or when traveling, will use Energy28 liquid packets.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

The more you use the TRX the more you wonder why did it take so long to get to this point. Every workout you can see something new in yourself, your balance improves, muscles get stronger, then you try another position, BAM, right back to the basics. This is what its all about, finding weak points and making them stronger.

Benefits

Versatile for All Athletes and Sports

The versatility of the TRX Suspension Trainer™ allows for hundreds of functional exercises to be combined to create unique and challenging training programs that meet the performance enhancement goals of all athletes and competitive events.

Improved Conditioning

The TRX Suspension Trainer™ is adjustable for any fitness level and because the mechanics of Suspension Training are based upon three planes of motion, muscles work together in groups to safely build strength, balance, flexibility and core stability in a more efficient manner.

Portable and Effective Workouts

The TRX Suspension Trainer™ is lightweight, portable and easy to set up, so athletes can get a total body workout in the gym, on the field or at home.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Introducing the new Swell Organics Collection- eco and style- friendly classics that leave the logos and chemicals out of the equation. 3 solid organic tees with tape at inner neck to keep a perfect shape after washing and a heat-sealed inner neck label. Regular fit, 100% organic cotton. Swell.